title: Fetal dorsalis pedis artery velocimetry in the second and third trimesters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to establish reference ranges for Doppler parameters of the fetal dorsalis pedis artery and to compare them with those of the anterior tibial artery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dorsalis pedis artery velocimetry was performed in 138 singleton fetuses. Intraobserver repeatability coefficients and differences between measurements of bilateral legs were also evaluated. Comparisons were made between the pulsatility index in the dorsalis pedis and anterior tibial arteries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average maximum velocity of the dorsalis pedis artery increased from approximately 12.2 cm/s at 18 weeks' gestation to 33.6 cm/s at 39 weeks' gestation, whereas the minimum velocity did not show any significant variation during the observed gestational weeks. The average pulsatility index increased from about 2.0 at 18 weeks' gestation to 3.1 at 39 weeks' gestation. The pulsatility index was lower in the dorsalis pedis artery than in the anterior tibial artery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Doppler parameters of the dorsalis pedis artery can be easily and accurately acquired by trained examiners and therefore are potential means for evaluating related fetal vascular development. However, it is still unclear whether changes exist in fetuses with limb diseases, and further investigation is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Rd, 410011 Changsha, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Yili
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qichang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Kui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Linling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zheli
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000196:embryology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000523:psychology*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000502:physiology*; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Doppler sonography; dorsalis pedis artery; fetus; maximum velocity; pulsatility index